Report: GM may kill Chevy Volt, Sonic and four other cars

Yahoo Finance ^ | July 22,2017

[Hojczyk]

General Motors has put six of its cars under review, including its once breakthrough Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and is evaluating whether to cancel them in the coming years, according to a report from Reuters. The news comes as sales of cars continue to plummet in the U.S. and as consumers increasingly turn to SUVs and pickups.

Besides the Chevrolet Volt hybrid, other vehicles believed to be under consideration for elimination iinclude the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Sonic, according to Reuters. GM spokesman Jim Cain declined to comment on the report. UAW President Dennis Williams said Thursday the union is in ongoing discussions

[1_Rain_Drop]

I have just purchased a used white Impala with tinted windows. Love it and love the reaction it gets from speeders. LOL. I feel safe.

[Vaquero]

Does the union still own the lions share if GM? No thanks.

[Darksheare]

But.. but.. we were told repeatedly how Wunnerfully the Volt was selling.

[newnhdad]

Volt is a nice car, just not practical for most people. It costs an obscene amount of money to make it and the Tesla is about to come in and compete..

[867V309]

I’m waiting for the Ohm.

Car of choice for the resistance?

[nicollo]

Rather remarkable that a company needs permission from its own employees to stop selling a product... the ongoing FDR legacy.

Either way, the Volt has outrun its political usefulness.

[exodan]

The Sonic is...

a Suzuki.

[rlmorel]

I feel much the same way, Seaplaner. I see two facts:

1.) The UAW is a roadblock to quality product at a competitive price. Their priority is not to produce great cars that people will buy, leading to great profits. Their priority is to extract more money from the company no matter the damage. It is never enough money until the company goes down the tubes.

2.) It is undeniable FACT that union dues go to liberal candidates in huge numbers, dwarfing ANY money that might go to a conservative candidate. And that money to liberal candidates is bad for America, period. The table below from Opensecrets.org demonstrates what I mean:

I know I am preaching to the choir in you, but I feel very strongly about this. It is a very prominent reason why I find buying American cars unpalatable, though not impossible. In view of both of those things, I would abhor any government funds going to prop up GM. If we can have a private company rise up to build great rocket engines, we can have a private company rise up to build great cars.

[sheana]

I’ve seen a few. Not many. And I drive from Bakersfield to Ventura and then all over SoCal about every 2 weeks.

[exodan]

Volvo found a Sugar daddy...

...and no sales. Since the Chinese takeover, Volvo cars lost their prestige, because of the Chinese shoddiness on quality and bad reputation.

[dfwgator]

Volvo cars lost their prestige, because of the Chinese shoddiness on quality and bad reputation.

You mean Volvos aren't "Boxy, But Good" anymore?

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Same here, my last American made car was...the Pinto!
It was my first brand new car. Been buying Honda’s since 1985.

Hubby prefers BMW’s, his last American car was his Buick Regal, died with 80,000 miles on it.

The American Auto industry & Unions did it to themselves.

[Caipirabob]

The last time I saw one my thought was “What a cuck...”

[SaraJohnson]

Government motors need another bailout to protect Chinese jobs?

[ROCKLOBSTER]

let’s end the taxpayer subsidies for Tesla.

And all other cases of corporate welfare.

[wjcsux]

Trump should abolish the CAFE standards so the automakers can build and market vehicles people actually want to buy. It is my understanding that the automakers make these little POS cars to comply with the CAFE standards, there doesn’t appear to be much of a market for them.

[hoagy62]

I happen to own a 2015 Sonic.
One of the best cars I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Great on gas mileage, reasonably comfortable ride, great commuter car. The wife and I drove from western Washington to Las Vegas and back a week after I got it.
It has so far performed to expectation.

[musicman]

Help FR Continue the Conservative Fight!
Your Monthly and Quarterly Donations
Help Keep FR In the Battle!

Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Well, a RWD SUV pretty much is a station wagon.

[taildragger]

I want to know more...

As my gnome told me after it came out, it's competitors looked it over real close and they thought what they did was real clever and the real deal. But engineering exercise successes do not guarantee it will win in the marketplace. I have one of it's plug in competitors in my inventory at the moment and I must admit I am smitten by the quiet and smooth of the 20 something miles under pure electric, the torque of the line is addicting.

However, the article last week @ "The Financial Times" that the magical battery is more about Physics and Chemistry ( and unless someone really stumbles upon something ) we are looking at incremental improvements, No game changer at this moment on the Horizon. Although, their are those that claim the have 2X, 3X and up to 5X batteries waiting as they are in various funding before going public mode, including "Store-Dot", "Prieto" etc. I had to the pleasure of meeting a high tech guru who might be a household name ( soon ) this time last year and I was told it about energy density and we can't get beyond 400 kw/hr, again physics and chemistry.

https://www.ft.com/content/2956d4aa-67fb-11e7-8526-7b38dcaef614

This move by GM could be as simple as the Plug-In / Hybrid will be replaced by the Mild-Hybrid 48V Architecture that all the Tier Suppliers are peddling and that is here or about to be here soon, as it is a much more cost effective solution....